Sports complex land deal endorsed by PF council
POST FALLS - A proposal for the city to buy 61.2 acres on the Rathdrum Prairie for a future multi-use sports complex has cleared its first hurdle.
The Post Falls City Council on Tuesday night unanimously voted to move ahead with a sales agreement for $750,000 that would tie up the property west of Highway 41 between Prairie and Hayden avenues.
The property, however, would only close if a future 100-acre annexation request of adjacent properties by the owner, Oregon-based developer Prairie Crossing West II, LLC, is approved.
City administrator Eric Keck said the developers have indicated they'll bring their request forward soon.
The council agreed to move forward on the agreement with little hesitation.
"It would not just take care of itself (financially), but it would also help the community," said Councilwoman Linda Wilhelm, adding that softball, soccer and basketball tournaments would draw visitors from out of town and help businesses.
The property would be paid for with park impact fees already in hand and not raise taxes. Development of the complex, which has not been estimated cost-wise, would be paid for by a combination of general fund dollars and park impact fees. But it is believed it will pay for itself once built with revenue from events, Keck said.
The developer didn't get all of its prairie properties annexed as requested earlier, but Keck said staff doesn't believe the sports complex proposal is a way to force the annexation.
He said the price is phenomenal, the need for a complex is great, the flat land and access off Hayden are ideal for such a venue and the facility will generate revenue. Purchasing land for such a purpose is also part of the city's parks master plan.
"This is not a quid pro quo (something for something)," Keck said. "We believe there's pent-up demand for such facilities."
Post Falls has been in the market for property for sportsfields for several years since the Quad Park softball complex closed and some former soccer fields are now the site of Kootenai Medical Center's new cancer center.
Keck said the purchase, if finalized, may cause delays to some other parks projects.
The developers and their representatives have declined to comment on the deal or its progress.
The city may request annexation for its adjacent 160-acre site that will be used to apply treated wastewater when the developers' proposal comes forward.